The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1887-02-10

hmn IN gefupg ont OF the cbufch 90
. home.
= Hs knew very we'll that il was - muc
70 as bis life vas sorih to keep silsaoe Abou
7 the discovery hs had made Curiosiiy
however, prompted him to sec fos himsel
o what earthly object tho smugglsn coul,
J have in making parish church thei
trysting- place So early the nex. morn
0 ing, he LET himself into the sacred edihc'
: with bis private key, with the intention 0
: examining the tomb infinitely. To al
outward appearance il had not bsen dis.
tnrbed since the day when the remains o.
'.SIr Dick" were lowered into Il There
was not Granny in il vide enough TO sd-
init mans floger. add the most vigorous
blows with fist and foot failed 70 shake the
slab iu the smallest degree. Suddenly, Is
he was meditatively leaning on the stone
helmet above the escutcheon. the slab
slowly descended, and the secret was dis
covered. The psrson squeezed into the
small dark space. and scarcely had he
done so when the slab rose again TO its
ncrmal position. and he felt hinsslf drag
ged by powerful hand down flight Of
steps into utter darkness
He would have given a good deal to
have been back at his rectory just then.
Resistance was useless, so he passively
followed, aware by the smell that he was
amongst the chambers OF the dead, stun
bling against substances which rang out
weirdly hollow, and more than once dis
turbing with his foot round objects which
rolled away with rattle suggestive OF
skulls.
Suddenly turn in the passage revealed
a light, and group Of dark figures who
greeted him with derisive howl
Parson said the leader you made fools
Of us last night, and ii WAS dsrned clever
OF you. But look here; we mean business
You've found out by accident what has
been secret for nearly hundred years.
This ere passage is cut clean through
your buryin' ground. and as tother end |
opens on the beach, it comes very handy |
TO us, for the cleverest Preventive man on
the coast, and that's Scroby West, Of
Sherringham, would no more think OF
look kin for runners cellar in graveyard
than in market.p place. II you're mum
about it. all right, and you shall have the
the finest cellar O wine 10 the kingdom;
but if you split. as sure as you're Holy
Joe we'll do for yon.
What could the poor man say2 SO he
promised that no syllable should escape
bis lips as to the existence OF the snug
glers' passage. He was allowed to return, {
and that very evening he found
. couple Of hogsheads Of port wine in his s
garden.
Now thero was in the village a pretty 9
lively girl named Nancy Holliden Upon a
her the Rev. Mr.. Allport, who was getting '
tired Of single blessedness in such no g
i0tonous place as St. Edwards. begpn to Z
,Ast affectionate eyes; plfbonph socially r
he might have been considered, from a
10 ropolitan poiat - view. his inferior, a
he ~.s ;. most respectable and wel-be- a
a,.sd las, who lived alone with her moth. v
I ID . little white cottage built almost to
be sea edge. g.
1t happeaed one night that the rever o.
nd gentlemse a,srprised Miss Nancy in
ompeny with smuggler, and judged u
om some bits Of conversation be overhead
lat there was lovers quarrel going ON
etween them. From that moment he nc
'ticed change in Nancy Holliden. She
piled to his salutatioas with blushing 40
leeks and downcast eyes; he noticed co.
lettish touches about her dress as she co
I under him in church; she was always co
home when he called on her motker; he oil
et her at times and places when aud
acre be least expected her. Aud, as he he
IS BY no means n bad looking man, be. ge'
les holding the high position Of psrson. lax
made mp his mind that Nancy had re-
y thrown over her old sweetheart, and joi
. actually in love with him as much as ag'
vas with her.
Mr. Airport resolys sd that be would make the
! formal request for the girls haud on l
" Years Eve An auspicions date. he loo
lsidered. when peace and goodwill nin
uid be upper.nost "a the hearts Of won. bnt
as Of men. bee
The iateful night came ~ Wild, gusty her
bt such as smuaelers Iov,d aud shore. VIII,
| feared. The ringers bad done their IN
y IN The old belfrs. and he simple vii I
9 folk we're stn aiming ont OF the church to
ch. shaking hands. congfstnlating, aud
hing every thing good and kind, on my
ir way home to celebrate the birth OF bis
New Year with fun and feasting dos
! parson and Nancy Holliden fingered r
ind. %,
v course you can guess, Nancy, be ans,
!, why am keeping yoa behind the "a
I course Nancy had no idea and looked .
,nce ut him over her muffef. The
sou continued: !,
'ell, it's TO ask you to be my vile.
b, MIR. Airport! said the girl with we'll
ned astonishment reslIy-oh, IL -
oa take me so by surpIisel M,
ell me Nancy, be went on. seiziug her San,
g thick gloved hand. Let me have 4 ~bo
py New Year, for do love you so tru- Ia O
nd honestly. Tell me il you will take d,
= your husband. repl.
he girl WAS silent for few seconds, Al
the young mau could smos. bear his /. Va,
{ best during the suspense. At AZ
th she looked in his flce and said. n. n
Z. Airport you are very far above me. CLAN
are an educated gentleman wLo might Mr..
y any Of the tquires' young ladies' on
a tfuls Il n,I. III.